Description

I was small and frightened, tears streaming down my cheeks as I hold my grandmother’s hand. We were running fast and running for our lives. We’re scared, and I don’t know why.

The fact that my grandmother was scared made it worse for me.

“Hurry Alina!” urged my grandmother, squeezing my hand for reassurance. She forced a weak smile on to her face. Even as young as I was, I wasn’t fooled.

Something wasn’t right.

We were running through the dark, twisting labyrinths of corridors, a terrible mix of mildew and rotting wood assaults my senses, making me feel dizzy and lightheaded.

My grandmother stops suddenly. We rushed into a room. Upon entering, I notice there is a man who appeared to be anticipating our arrival. He was a very tall man wearing a long black robe. His eyes were soft and kind. I’d never met him before and I wasn’t frightened of him.

I sensed that he could be trusted.

He looked out the door and down either side of the corridor before he locked the door behind us with a huge wooden bar. My eyes started to wander, scanning the room. It has a dirt floor and crude walls made of rough stone. There is a long wooden table in the center of the room with a hoard of objects littering its top. A cold fireplace was the only recognizable feature.

I heard my grandmother gasp and she collapsed into the strange man. He says something to her in a hushed manner. He held her as she cried, comforting her.

He looks my way, a thin, small smile on his face offered as an apology to me. I still didn’t understand what was going on and they didn’t speak to me. Apparently, whatever was going on was for grown-ups only.

I see the man flick his wrists out of the corner of my eye. Suddenly, the stale and stagnant room filled with a gush of wild wind. My hair starts blowing around me. I watch in horror as a giant, swirling hole opened up where the wall once was. I wanted to run over to my grandmother for comfort and security, but I was frozen.

My grandmother hugged the man as if she was saying goodbye. She picked her bag up off the floor, and grabbed my hand…………………………………